"Come on," he said at last, as he sealed the door. "Work's over for another twelve hours. Start the drying machine, and we'll get comfortable. Then I'll try to get Chris again. If he hadn't borrowed the Wanderer for that trip of his I'd be tempted to hop over and find out what's up."

Haldane obediently swung over the lever of the artificial atmosphere machine that reproduced Earth condition for the traders during the rest-periods. As the air dried, the two stripped off the sodden working suits. Britt stretched himself luxuriously as the moisture was sucked from the bronzed skin of his body.